Deputy Chief of Party, USAID/Vietnam Innovation Ecosystem

About Palladium:
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

This Proposal Opportunity:
The USAID/Vietnam Innovation Ecosystem (VIE) Activity will develop Vietnam's innovation ecosystem by supporting the Government of Vietnam to strengthen the business enabling environment; strengthening interconnections and resources among actors; and enhancing the Ministry of Planning and Investment's (MPI) National Innovation Center's (NIC) capabilities to facilitate the ecosystem's development. The Activity will promote Vietnamese Growth-oriented Businesses (GOBs) that are developing, commercializing, or implementing innovative Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies or processes to realize untapped business growth opportunities, in alignment with Vietnam’s National Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution to 2030 (NS/4IR).

Position Summary:
Under the leadership of the Chief of Party (COP), the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) leads technical aspects of the project in compliance with USAID and Palladium rules and regulations to achieve project objectives. The DCOP will oversee project activities and support the main office regional technical teams in developing and implementing innovative 4IR models and identifying and fostering market linkages for GOBs. The DCOP will provide support to the COP in liaising, programmatic, strategic development, and quality control duties. The DCOP shall have a depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience, a solid professional reputation, interpersonal skills, and professional relationships to fulfill the requirements of the activity.
*This is a proposal position and is contingent upon award from USAID.*

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team of the program and support the COP in strategic leadership and oversight of project staff and activities;
• Co-lead and oversee programmatic functions, i.e., development of work plans, budgets, quarterly/annual reports, and ensure effective implementation of program strategy;
• Maintain effective and open communication throughout the project with COP, USAID, Project Director, Objective Leads, project operations teams, and other relevant stakeholders;
• Collaborate with different stakeholders, particularly the Vietnamese government, to foster country-driven, inclusive, locally relevant strategies to improve and implement the use of 4IR technologies and processes, provide institutional capacity building, elevate the business enabling environment, and facilitate connections between actors engaged in 4IR;
• Develop and maintain robust linkages between technical teams and monitoring & evaluation and communications teams, to ensure high-quality and timely monitoring and reporting of results and success stories;
• Work with the COP and other project staff to continuously refine implementation processes by integrating lessons learned and best practices;
• Ensure that program implementation is in accordance with Palladium’s and USAID’s regulations and procedures;
• In collaboration with local staff in-country, identify program opportunities and potential local partners as needed;
• Serve in an acting capacity in the absence of the COP; and
• Undertake other duties as assigned by the COP.

Required Qualifications:

• A University degree or higher in business, policy social sciences, economics, technology innovation, or a related field;
• Extensive experience in managerial and operational excellence, preferably in managing large donor projects involving coordination with multiple implementing partners or institutions;
• Experience working with closely with host government counterparts;
• Knowledge of USAID contract management, policies, procedures, regulations and reporting requirements preferred;
• Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams;
• Extensive experience in developing activity work-plans, budgets, managing implementation, staff, and short term technical assistance;
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think and plan strategically, ability to manage a diverse array of staff, consultants, and counterparts;
• Attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities, often within a required timeframe;
• Professional and diplomatic demeanor and conduct, especially during interactions with the client and its constituents, particularly regarding the Vietnamese government;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
Experience working in Southeast Asia region preferred. Experience in Vietnam a plus.

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Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.